What does it take to write 1000 articles on InfoBarrel? It takes a ton of willpower!
My name is Tim and I am trying to gain an edge here on InfoBarrel. I am totally out of writing-shape. To get into shape I'll have to develop my willpower to write and improve. As I learn more about willpower, I will share with you all the details.Â
You can read more about me at my blogÂ Starting from Zip.

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Willpower Definition

What is your willpower?

What is the best willpower definition for you? It is not a word that you can describe in one simple sentence. You can say that it is your ability to do exactly what you want to do in life. Or you can say that it takes a lot of willpower quit a bad habit such as cigarettes. The more willpower you have, the easier it is for you to quit. Everyone's definition of willpower is different, yet everyone wants the same thing: more of it. Maybe you can describe willpower as what it takes for you to counter everything that keeps you from accomplishing your goal.

My simple willpower definition:

Your ability to set a goal, work towards this goal, and overcome any and all obstacles to meet this goal.

But willpower is more complicated than this. Have you ever set a goal and shortly after abandoned it? A New-Years resolution, perhaps - like going to the gym three times a week or eating healthy?

You lost all willpower to accomplish your goal? Swept it under the carpet?

My simple definition is one-dimensional, but there are many other angles at which you can look at it. What can willpower be used for?

Willpower to Overcome Procrastination

One of the most common obstacles to achieving a goal is procrastination. If you feel that a goal is impossible to achieve or you have no real reason to complete a particular goal then giving up becomes extremely easy.

It is not that you would come to a the conclusion to completely give up and decide that the task is not for you. Rather, you go into a state of a limbo between 'working' on the task and writing a comment on your friend's Facebook page. In the end nothing gets done - or if you completed some of the task, it was half-hearted.

To achieve your goal, you must have enough willpower to overcome procrastination and get the job done. In other words, you must keep working on your task to completion and achieve your goal.

You need willpower to succeed here to stick to your long-term plan.

Willpower to Overcome Urges

When I think about urges, smoking and drinking come to mind. Cigarettes and alcohol are tools that some people use to deal with stress. If you drive by a retail outlet or the back of a restaurant, you will probably see a few of the store associates smoking. Now of course there are different urges out there, but these are the most common (that I have met).

Willpower plays a huge roll when giving up urges, as you need more willpower to overcome an urge than to overcome procrastination. Urges are harder to quit not only because the are part habitual but they are also part chemical. When you're about to give into an urge, you start coming up with irrational reasons why you can do it this time and quit later (later never comes). Health issues and/or family are a good place for you to start when building up willpower to quit an urge or addiction like cigarettes/alcohol.

You need willpower derived from your family and friends here.

Willpower helps you to get from point A to point B and resist any temptation in between. How much willpower do you have?